compact shelf stereo system

onetwelve · 05-10-2006, 06:20 PM

i dont know if this is the right forum, but it seems to be the closest to what i need to ask. i'm looking for a small home stereo. its going to be used in the kitchen. the only small stereo i can think of off the top of my head is the bose wave music system. that runs around 4-5 hundred and was wondering if there was any alternatives. i also saw this

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Phili...oductDetail.do

dont know how the quality is on that one but it seems like a good size for the kitchen. im lookin at spending max 4-5 hundred (if i have to get the bose) but any best bang for ur buck systems i would appreciate. thanks in advance.

thekidrocks · 05-12-2006, 08:28 AM

There is a world of difference in sound quality between the Bose Wave and that Philips system... this time the Wave has a huge edge.

However there are a LOT of systems out there. Do you NEED CD, or will a radio do? If you don't need CD, then look into the deals on the Boston Recepter radio from Audio Advisor. They have refurbished stock for under $80 that rivals/beats the Wave for far less - yes it's "just a mono radio", but sound is excellent.

Also check into the Cambridge SoundWorks stereo radios, which come with or without a CD player. Directly aimed at the Wave, it sounds far better for much less money. Again, refurbs (normally customer returns - put back to as new) are the bargains... and they are there as you are hard pressed to find them in stores - so they have a liberal return policy. Personally their display is rather bright for a bedroom, which I believe is why there are returns. They sell them at hifi.com's eBay store for cheap. Without CD is around $130 - add $100 for CD. Sound absoltetuly blows the Wave away - people will swear you have a component system playing when they walk into the room.

onetwelve · 05-12-2006, 04:47 PM

thanks for your suggestions. i am looking for a system that has a CD player included. i know that the phillips and bose dont compare in quality, but i was just wondering whats out there in each price range that would be the best. the main things im looking for is price, quality, and size. thanks again.

spigidygak · 06-21-2006, 09:02 AM

I just went through finding a replacement for my bedroom as the Denon mini system I had decided to fail on me for a 2nd time and I didn't feel like sending it in again for repairs as it never was really fixed the first time. Anyhow, long story short I decided to buy into one of those compact wave radio style systems. My options were narrowed to the Bose Wave Radio, Cambridge Soundworks and Boston Accoustics.

I knocked out the wave radio because the sound to price ratio wasn't enough for me, on top of that the lack of controls on the unit itself was a big minus for me. The cambridge sounded great especially for the price but the build quality is questionable as I read a lot of reviews of people having to send back faulty units. So I settled with the Boston Accoustics Microsystem CD.

It sounds great, imo better than the wave radio. It has a more rich and full sound than the wave which can sound sort of shallow and airy at times depending on content. Anyhow main plus factors were that it had easy to use buttons on top, the remote hides away neatly behind the front door. It also has a light sensor so the display dims when it gets dark which is nice.

The best part was it has a retail same as Bose, but because it's not Bose, just do a little searching and you can find it for around $300 which is what I paid for it. Great value for the quality and sound of the unit.

thresher · 07-13-2006, 07:31 PM

I got the Boston Accoustics too, love the system - HATE the remote control. My cat plays with it (read - must search everywhere for it), my wife takes it into other rooms (read - must search everywhere else for it) and the damn thing is tiny in my hands (read - the damn thing is tiny

). But, the sound is great and the space is small. :y:

Itsme · 07-13-2006, 07:49 PM

Over the years I've had three low cost systems. All three ended up not working after a couple of years. Usually, the CD player went first.

I think in these systems you really do get what you pay for.

ArkiStan · 07-15-2006, 11:12 PM

Unless space is a real problem, you will always get the best sound by putting together a nice set of bookshelf speakers with a stereo receiver. It shouldn't run you more than 300-400 bucks. But of course not everybody can afford to do the research to find a good setup.

05-10-2006, 06:20 PM	#1
onetwelve Plebe Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2	compact shelf stereo system i dont know if this is the right forum, but it seems to be the closest to what i need to ask. i'm looking for a small home stereo. its going to be used in the kitchen. the only small stereo i can think of off the top of my head is the bose wave music system. that runs around 4-5 hundred and was wondering if there was any alternatives. i also saw this http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Phili...oductDetail.do dont know how the quality is on that one but it seems like a good size for the kitchen. im lookin at spending max 4-5 hundred (if i have to get the bose) but any best bang for ur buck systems i would appreciate. thanks in advance.

06-21-2006, 09:02 AM	#4
spigidygak Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Location: Redlands & San Diego, CA. Posts: 5,882	I just went through finding a replacement for my bedroom as the Denon mini system I had decided to fail on me for a 2nd time and I didn't feel like sending it in again for repairs as it never was really fixed the first time. Anyhow, long story short I decided to buy into one of those compact wave radio style systems. My options were narrowed to the Bose Wave Radio, Cambridge Soundworks and Boston Accoustics. I knocked out the wave radio because the sound to price ratio wasn't enough for me, on top of that the lack of controls on the unit itself was a big minus for me. The cambridge sounded great especially for the price but the build quality is questionable as I read a lot of reviews of people having to send back faulty units. So I settled with the Boston Accoustics Microsystem CD. It sounds great, imo better than the wave radio. It has a more rich and full sound than the wave which can sound sort of shallow and airy at times depending on content. Anyhow main plus factors were that it had easy to use buttons on top, the remote hides away neatly behind the front door. It also has a light sensor so the display dims when it gets dark which is nice. The best part was it has a retail same as Bose, but because it's not Bose, just do a little searching and you can find it for around $300 which is what I paid for it. Great value for the quality and sound of the unit. __________________

07-13-2006, 07:31 PM	#5
thresher Commander Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: St.Augustine FL. Plymouth Rock is a newbie! Posts: 1,223	I got the Boston Accoustics too, love the system - HATE the remote control. My cat plays with it (read - must search everywhere for it), my wife takes it into other rooms (read - must search everywhere else for it) and the damn thing is tiny in my hands (read - the damn thing is tiny ). But, the sound is great and the space is small. :y: __________________ Wait a second... you're telling me Sixpac Shakur is a CHICK?

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05-12-2006, 08:28 AM	#2
thekidrocks Lieutenant Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northen Indiana Posts: 357	There is a world of difference in sound quality between the Bose Wave and that Philips system... this time the Wave has a huge edge. However there are a LOT of systems out there. Do you NEED CD, or will a radio do? If you don't need CD, then look into the deals on the Boston Recepter radio from Audio Advisor. They have refurbished stock for under $80 that rivals/beats the Wave for far less - yes it's "just a mono radio", but sound is excellent. Also check into the Cambridge SoundWorks stereo radios, which come with or without a CD player. Directly aimed at the Wave, it sounds far better for much less money. Again, refurbs (normally customer returns - put back to as new) are the bargains... and they are there as you are hard pressed to find them in stores - so they have a liberal return policy. Personally their display is rather bright for a bedroom, which I believe is why there are returns. They sell them at hifi.com's eBay store for cheap. Without CD is around $130 - add $100 for CD. Sound absoltetuly blows the Wave away - people will swear you have a component system playing when they walk into the room.

05-12-2006, 04:47 PM	#3
onetwelve Plebe Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2	thanks for your suggestions. i am looking for a system that has a CD player included. i know that the phillips and bose dont compare in quality, but i was just wondering whats out there in each price range that would be the best. the main things im looking for is price, quality, and size. thanks again.

07-13-2006, 07:49 PM	#6
Itsme Vice Admiral Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 4,813	Over the years I've had three low cost systems. All three ended up not working after a couple of years. Usually, the CD player went first. I think in these systems you really do get what you pay for.

07-15-2006, 11:12 PM	#7
ArkiStan Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Location: Recession Central Posts: 5,898	Unless space is a real problem, you will always get the best sound by putting together a nice set of bookshelf speakers with a stereo receiver. It shouldn't run you more than 300-400 bucks. But of course not everybody can afford to do the research to find a good setup.

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